If a kitchen remodeling project is in your future,
budget consideration is one of the first steps - even before deciding
what you want to change or build. A realistic budget will guide your decisions
on the extent of the remodeling project. Without a realistic budget, things
can easily spiral out of control, leading to either deflated expectations,
poor 'return on investment'.

A good starting point for building your remodeling budget is to figure about
15% of the homes value as a good ballpark figure during the budget process.
Much more than that and return on investment becomes more difficult. It depends
on your circumstances. If you plan on retiring in your present home, then
you can spend as much as you can afford to make your dream home.

Sometimes it is better to repair than to remodel. If for example, you feel
your kitchen would be fine except for some broken tiles, then go ahead and
wither repair the broken tiles, or replace all the tiles. Sometimes, just
some expert decorating is sufficient to achieve satisfactory improvement before
replacing or refacing cabinets and more.

The decision to hire a contractor is a large factor in how a remodeling
budget is allocated. DIY, or Do It Yourself is an option that can save a lot
of money. Depending on where you live, the cost of labor can be a substantial
percentage of your kitchen remodeling project budget. While DIY costs your
time instead of your money plus materials. Repairs are also a good DIY candidate
depending on ability and complexity.

Networking with friends, family, neighbors, and on-line forms are a great
way to find deals and get advise. Promotions, deals, and coupons can be collected
this way, in addition to good referrals. The advise offered by others can
easily save large sums of money and avoid nasty, costly surprises. This holds
true for redoing the decorating or redoing the cabinets.

Home improvement fairs are a great source of discount coupons for the jobs
you do outsource to a contractor. At these fairs, you can talk to numerous
remodeling contractors for every aspect of your remodeling project. Collect
literature from each one, making not of which ones you feel most comfortable
with, and collect any coupons they offer. Often times, contractors at home
improvement fairs will offer special package deals offered only for fair attendees.

Another way to save money is to purchase the products and supplies yourself.
Many contractors will ad a small markup fee to the cost of materials they
purchase. That's fare, since it's part of the job to purchase materials. But
if you make those purchases yourself, you can shop for the best prices, and
save on any markup.

Once you've collected all the information you can start piecing things together
to make the remodeling project fit within your budget. You'll be able to figure
out where you need to save money doing something yourself or purchasing materials
yourself. And don't forget the added satisfaction knowing that you got the
job done within budget